Tubular lamp holder



Aug. 17, 1948.- G. s. MERRILL 2,447,353

V`TUBULAR LAMPA HOLDER Filed Nov. 25. 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor: George S. Merrill,

b9 ,wwf uw His Attorney.

Aug. 17, 1948. G. s. MERRILL TUBULAR LAMP HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 25, 1944 Inventor. George S. Merrill, bg Hi's Attorney.

Patented Aug. 17, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,447,353 runtime. rarer nomma Application 'November 25, 1944, Serial No. 565,099

6 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to lamp holders for tubular lamps such as iluorescent lamps and especially to la'mp holders for high voltage 'iiuorescent'lamps such as cold cathode lamps and instant starting hot cathode lamps.

The vobject of the "invention is to provide an improved lamp holder for such lamps which is relatively simple in structure, safe and'reliable in use, and which' provides for multiple breaks of a lamp circuit when the lamp is removed from the holder so as to minimize arcing.

For a. consideration of what I believe to be novel and Vmy invention, attention is directed to the following Vspecification and to the claims appended thereto. y

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tubular lamp supported in holders embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the holders, a lamp end ben ing shown in position therein; Fig. 3 is an end view with the end cover plate partially broken away; Fig. 4 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the Apositioning of the lamp in the holders; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the positions parts of the holder occupy when a lamp end is not therein; Fig. 6 is an exploded. perspective view illustrating certain parts of the holder, andFigs. 7 and 8 are views of a modicau tion.

Referring to the drawing, Figs. 1 to 6, I indi cates a tubular lamp mounted in holders 2 which may ber'alike in structure. The lamp comprises a. glass tube'sealed at its ends and on each end provided with a cap or lamp base 3 of insulating material fixed in position on the tube ends in any suitable manner. Each cap 3 has a projecting portion 4 provided with an axially extending bore 5 in which is 4located a lamp terminal 3, the terminal being spaced` from the end of projecting portion 4. Terminals 6 are electrically connected to suitable cathodes located within the ends oi the glass tube. y

The lamp holder comprises a base 'I having walls which define a tubular housing 8 provided at one end with an opening 9 of a diameter to receive the end of the tubular lamp which is to be mounted therein. The 'other end of the housing is closed by a cover plate I xed in position by screws 'II. The base has `feet I2 to receive screws I3 for fastening the holder to a support I4.

Positioned in housing 8` are two walls I5 and IB which forr'n contact carriers. Wall I5 is in the form of a disk and is provided with wings or projections I1 which slide in longitudinally extending grooves in the wallof housing 8. Wings (Cl. Zini-*51.0%

2 I'I serve to x disk l movement but permit it to move axially. Disk I is biased against a shoulder I8 in housing 8 bya spring IS positioned between disk I5 and cover plate I3. In disk I5 isa central opening 2li in which is located a terminal contact pin '2| which' projects well beyond disk I5 as is shownl clearly in Fig. 2. Itis adapted to engage a lamp terminal contact 6. Arranged around opening 2i! are a series of openings 22, 23, 24, 25, 2E and 2l. Positioned in opening 22 is a wire terminal contact 28 to which is connected one end of `a terminal wire 29, the other end being connected to a terminal bar 30 provided with a screw 3I by means of which a lead Wire may be connected to it. Wire terminal contact 28 is provided with a flange 32 which nts in a recess in a face of disk l5 and is held yieldingly therein by a spring 33 located between flange 32 and the end wall of cap 3&3. Positioned in holes 23 to 21 inclusive are contacts 35, 35, 3l, 38 and 39. Contacts 35 and 35 are connected together by a strap 40; contacts 3l and 38 are connected together by a strap 4I, and contacts 39 and terminal contact 2| are connected together by a strap 42. Straps 40, 4I and i2 are located in recesses in the face of disk I5 and each is provided with outwardly extending projection as shown clearly in Fig. 5. Wire terminal contact 32 and straps 40, 4I and 42 with their attached contacts are held in position by a cover disk 43 of insulating material against which spring I 9 is positioned. Wire `terminal contact' 28 and contacts 35 to 39 are relatively short as compared to the thickness of disk I 5, so that when f positioned in their respective openings, their ends are well spaced from one end of the openings. In substance, there isv providedin disk I5 a number of sockets at the inner ends of which the contacts are located.

W all I3 is in the form of a disk having a flange i4 between which and the adjacentlsurface of disk I5 there is located a spring 45 which biases disk Iii to a position wherein it engages the vend wall of housing 8. Disk I6 is positioned inside of an axially extending wall 46 integral with' wall I 5.

wail is is provided with a cent-,rai opening 4'1 through which terminal contact 2I extends. On its side adjacent to disk I5, it is provided with a series of contact pins 48, 49, 53, 5I, 52 and 53 which are in line with and adapted to move in holes 22 to 21 in Wall I5. When a lamp is not in position in a holder, spring holds wall I 5 against the end of housing 8 and when in this position the ends of contact pins 48 to 53 are positioned just within the outer ends, or holes I5 from circumferential 22 to 21. This serves to keep disk i6 correctly aligned with disk l and to prevent its turning relative to disk l5. Also when wall i6 is against the end of housing 8, the end of terminal contact pin 2| is completely housed in opening 41, being spaced well back from the end of the opening. Contact pins 48 and 49 are connected together by a strap 54; contact pins 59 and 5i by a strap 55, and contact pins 52 and 53 by a strap 56. When a lamp end is positioned in the holder, the pins are moved down into holes 22 to 2l to engage the contacts therein as shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 6, the dot and dash lines indicate the alignment of the socket contacts carried by disk l5 and the `contact pins carried by disk It. Socket contact 28 is aligned with contact pin @il and socket contacts 35, 36, 3l, 38 and 39 are aligned with contact pins 49, 59, 5l, 52 and 53, respectively.

In use, the two lamp holders are positioned relativelyA to each other as shown in Fig. l, being spaced to receive between them the lamp with which they are to be used. When a lamp is not in the holders, the disk l@ in each holder is held against the end of disk housing il by spring Q5. The disks l5 are held against the shoulders E8 by the springs I9. Toposition a lamp in the holders, a lamp end is inserted in one of the holders angularly and then pushed into the holder until the other end of the lamp will clear the other holder, This requires that the lamp end be brought sub stantiallyto the position shown in Fig. li. When the lamp end is first pushed into the holder, disk l5 is moved axially until the contact pins engage the contacts in the bottom of the sockets after which both disks are moved together. This re sult is obtained because spring i9 is stronger than spring 45, it being suiciently strong to hold disk l5 against shoulder lil while spring l5 is being compressed. The other end of the lamp is then brought up into line with the other holder after which the lamp is permitted to move axially into the other holder. The springs i9 of the two holders serve to center the lamp in the holders. The arrangement is such preferably that a lamp terminal contact 5 engages the corresponding lamp-1 holder contact pin 2l before the pins carried by disk l5 engage the contacts carried by disk l5. To this end, pin 2l may be connected to strap 42 by an axially yieldable connection comprising a neck which passes through an opening in strap 132 and has a head held against the strap by a spring 42e. When the lamp is in position in the holder, the circuit for the lamp is from terminal screw 3l through wire 29 to Wire contact 28, thence through contact pin (i9, strap 54%, contact pin dit?, socket contact 35, strap 4t, socket contact 36, contact pin 59, strapl 55, contact pin 5l, socket contact 3l, strap 4l, socket contact 98, contact pin 52, strap 59, contact pin 53, socket Contact 39 and strap 42 to the lamp terminal engaging contact 2|. All the contacts are connected in the circuit in series.

A lamp is removed by first moving it axially until the one end is beyond its holder 2, then moving it down angularly out of line with the holder 2 and moving it axially out of the other holder. When the lamp is moved axially to ren move it from the holders in the iirst instance, the pins carried by disk i6 move from engagement with the contacts carried by disk l5 thus opening the circuit at each of these points. Upon additional movement, the lamp terminal contact 5 is moved from engagement with the end of contact pin 2|.

4 By this arrangement, the circuit is broken at a multiplicity of points within the disk l5. In the present instance, seven such points are illustrated. It will be understood, however, that a greater or fewer number may be used as found desirable. In

any event, due to the multiplicity of points at which the circuit is broken simultaneously, the arcing at each of the points is minimized'. Such arcing as occurs is confined to the sockets where it is not visible and where it can 'do no harm.

While I have shown all the contact pins carried by the one disk and all the socket contacts carried by the other disk, it will be understood that this is only one arrangement and that other arrangements of the contacts between the disks may be provided, if found desirable.

In Figs. 'l and 8 is shown a construction similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 6 except for the arrangement of the contacts on the contact carriers 5l' and 5t which correspond to the contact carriers iandiofligslto.

Contact carrier 5l, which formed of suitable insulating material, is provided with three sockets at the inner ends of which are located contacts 5e, 69 and El. Contacts 59 and 6i! are -connected together by a conducting strap 62 attached to carrier l5 by a screw 5t. Contact Si is connected by a strap @d to terminal wire 55 corresponding to terminal wire 29 of Figs. l to 6.

Contact carrier 58 is provided with three contact pins 65, Eil and Contact pins 66 and 61 are connected together by a metal strap G9 and Contact pin 99 is connected to a terminal Contact it by a strap Il. Terminal contact 79 isadapted to engage with the lamp terminal Contact, 'l2 at the end of lamp I3. When a lamp is positioned in the lamp holder, the circuit to the lamp is from terminal wire 55 to socket contact 5I and through contact pin til, strap 69, contactl pin 66, socket contact 59, strap 52, socket contact lill, contact pin il, strap il and terminal contact 'lll tothe lamp terminal Contact l2. In this arrangement, it will be seen that the socket contact terminal 'I9 is carried by the Contact carrier 5t, ,which corresponds to contact carrier l5 oi Figs. l to 6, rather than by contact carrier 5l' which corresponds to contact carrier i5 or Figs. l to 6. In this arrangement also spring lll, corresponding to spring 45 of Figs. l to 6, is arranged at the center of the contact carriers rather than at the periphery of the Contact carriers. Also, in this arrangement, walls 'l5 and Iii which house the terminal contacts Il] and 'l2 telescope one within the other when the lamp end is inserted in the holder as is clearly shown in Fig. 'l

In the modiiication shown in Figs. 'l and 8, the.

circuit is opened initially at three points, i. e., at the three socket contacts 59, 69 and 6|. rIhe arrangement is such that when a lamp is remove-d from a lamp holder, the circuit is opened at contacts 59, 59 and 6l prior to separation of lamp 'terminal Contact d2 from lamp holder terminal contact it. 4 f

In connection with -both structures illustrated, it will be understood that. the several straps connecting the contacts will provide suillcient ilexibility to insure good electrical engagement between the contacts and the contact pins.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described` the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereobut IA desire yto have it understood that the apparatus shown is only i1- lustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and ydesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A lamp holder comprising a base having Walls which define a cylindrical housing having a stop shoulder intermediate between its ends, a first disk in the housing, a spring biasing said disk against the stop shoulder, walls deiining a plurality of spaced sockets in the disk, contacts in said sockets, a lamp terminal engaging contact carried by said disk, a second disk in Said housing, a spring biasing the second disk to a position in spaced relation to said rst disk, pin contacts carried by said second disk adapted to enter said sockets and engage the contacts therein when the second disk is moved relatively to the first disk by the insertion of a lamp end into the lamp holder, and means whereby when the pin contacts engage said socket contacts, the socket contacts are connected in series with said lamp terminal engaging contact.

2. A lamp holder for a tubular lamp having contact terminals at its ends comprising a base having an open end through which alamp end may be inserted, a wall in the base remote from the open end, a lamp terminal engaging pin carried by said wall and extending toward said open end, an axially movable insulating member in the base having an axially extending opening through which said pin extends and which houses the end of the pin when a lamp end is not in position in the lamp holder, said insulating member being moved by the insertion of a lamp end into the holder to expose the end of the pin for engagement with a lamp terminal Contact, a line terminal contact, a line terminal, and a plurality of pairs of contacting members carried by said wall and movable insulating member with the individual contacting members of one pair in alignment with the corresponding contact members of different pairs which when engaged with each other provide a series of contacts through which said pin is electrically connected to said line terminal.

3. A lamp holder comprising a base having walls which dene a tubular housing having an open end and axially spaced stop shoulders, axially movable transverse walls in said housing, means biasing said walls against said stop shoulders, a line terminal contact carried by one of said walls, a lamp terminal engaging Contact carried by the other of said walls, and a plurality of contacts and contact pins carried by said walls,

said contacts and contact pins forming a plurality of circuit interrupting points in a series electrical circuit and which are brought into engagement when a lamp end is positioned in the lamp holder to connect the line terminal contact to the lamp terminal engaging contact.

4. A lamp holder comprising a base having walls which define a tubular housing having an open end and axially spaced stop shoulders, axially movable transverse walls in said housing, means biasing said walls against said stop shoulders, a line terminal contact and a lamp terminal engaging contact carried by one of said walls, and a plurality of contacts and contact pins carried by said walls, said contacts and contact pins forming a plurality of circuit interrupting points in a series electrical circuit and Whch are brought into engagement when a lamp end is positioned in the lamp holder to connect the line terminal Contact to the lamp terminal engaging contact.

5. In a lamp holder, a hollow base having two contact carrying supports therein, spring means normally tensioning one of said supports apart from the other, a plurality of contacts on each of said supports correspondingly positioned on the two supports so that the corresponding contacts will connect with each other when the supports are moved toward each other against said spring means, means connecting together noncorresponding pairs of contacts on each of the two supports so as to form a series circuit through said contacts and connecting means alternately from one support to the other, whereby the points of separation of the corresponding contacts on the two supports dene a plurality of simultaneous circuit breaking points in series, a lamp terminal engaging contact connected to one end of said series circuit and mounted on one of said supports for independent axial movement and means biasing the latter contact outwardly lof said base for separation from a lamp terminal subsequent to opening of said series circuit breaking points when a lamp is being removed from the holder.

6. A lamp holder comprising a base having Walls which denne a tubular housing having an open end and axially spaced stop shoulders, axially movable transverse walls in said housing, means biasing said walls against said stop shoulders, a line terminal contact and a lamp terminal engaging contact carried by one of said walls, and a plurality of contacts and Contact pins carried by said walls, said contacts and contact pins forming a plurality of circuit interrupting points in a series electrical circuit and which are brought into engagement when a lamp end is positioned in the lamp holder to connect the line terminal contact to the lamp terminal engaging contact,

and means providing independent axial movement of said lamp terminal engaging Contact and biasing the latter contact outwardly for engagement with a lamp terminal prior to engagement of said contact pins with said contacts when a lamp is being positioned in the holder.

GEORGE S. MERRILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 630,475 Wellman Aug. 8, 1.899 1,021,195 Knauf Mar. 26, 1912 1,083,542 Knauff Jan. 6, 1914 1,361,650 Varin Dec. '7, 1920 1,901,040 Peroni et al Mar. 14, 1933 1,949,258 Paul Feb. 27, 1934 2,158,852 Ceader May 16, 1939 2,393,616 De Reamer Jan. 29, 1946 

